Flush type flower vase assembly



FLUSH TYPE FLOWER VASE ASSEMBLY Filed March 14, 1960 IN V EN TOR. 0170,6. final;

Elite This invention relates generally to cemetery flower vases andspecifically is an improvement to that type of vase used in cemeterieswhere it is desirable to not have projecting portions above groundlevel.

In many cemeteries, especially government and military cemeteries, therehave been regulations set forth proscribing flower vases of the typewhich extend above ground level. These regulations were instituted toreduce increasingly high maintenance costs. The use of power mowers andother such equipment is greatly facilitated when there are no aboveground projections.

The structure of the present invention is comprised generally of anoutside aluminum casting adapted to be set in the ground, and aremovable extruded aluminum insert which is adapted to fit within thecasting.

One important objective of this invention 'is to provide a flower Vaseassembly of the type described, having means to prevent dirt insuflicient quantities from entering and caking between the flower holderinsert and the casting which would result in hindering the removablefeature of the insert. Because flush type flower holders are at groundlevel, the problem of dirt adhesion and caking presents a very seriousdifliculty. Flower vases f the type described herein are manufactured tolast many tens of years, and must stay operable even though not used formany years at a time. If dirt caking begins and is allowed to age forlong periods, it will destroy the usefulness of the springs and, in manyinstances,

will prevent the inner vase from being removed without destroying theflower vase assembly. This invention advances means to lessen the amountof dirt entering the assembly, and provides an exhaust route for thatwhich does enter.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide meanswhereby ground water which enters the assembly will readily draintherefrom.

A still further and important objective of this invention is to providea unique leaf spring retaining type device to prevent the inner vaseinsert from floating in the event of rain or ground water. The springsare attached to the casting in a manner to reduce the chances of thesprings becoming inoperative A still further objective of this inventionis to provide finger grips on the insert to cooperate with fingerdepressions on the casting so as to aid in the easy removal of theinsert. The finger grips on the insert are in the forms of beads whichhave the further objective of giving additional strength to the insert.The'bead acts also as a spacer between the flower stems and the uppervase Opening.

Further objectives and advantages of this invention will be apparentfrom the following description and claim wherein the construction,arrangement and cooperation of the several parts of the invention areset forth.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a plane view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIG.

1 with the insert removed; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing theinterior of the outside container and the interior vase in phantom.

Referring now to the drawings, where like elements indicate like parts,the numeral indicates the flower due to caking dirt.

1 res atent O of casting vase assembly of this invention. The assemblyis comprised of two basic parts; an aluminum casting 12 and a metallicflower holder insert 14 which is closed at one end 16. Note in FIG. 1that the insert is in its upside down or in a not-used position. Whenthere are actually flowers in the vase, the closed end -16 would be atthe bottom of the casting 12 as shown in phantom in FIG. 4. The safetyand practical advantages of storing the inner vase in the upside-downposition are evident. The assembly, in this position, presents a smoothsurface to ground level, and will not hinder the use of power equipment.Additionally, the bottom of the inverted vase will act as a blockingmember to dirt and Water.

The insert 14 is made preferably of 'an extruded aluminum and hasinteriorly directed beads 18 and 20 near the closed and open endsthereof. The exterior annular grooves formed by beads 18 and 20 serve toprovide a finger grip to remove the insert. The beads also act asreinforcing members for the extrusion. The beads further prevent flowerstems from rubbing on the edge of the insert opening. Theedges ofextrusions of this type are oftentimes suflicieutly sharp to cut flowerstems inclined against them.

The casting or outer vase 12 is preferably of a onepiece aluminumconstruction and is formed of a cylindrical body section 24, inwardlyfacing bottom flange 26 and an outwardly extending upper flange 28.Conveniently arranged about the periphery of flange 28 is 'an extension30 having a flagstaff receiving aperture 32 therein. Finger receivingdepressions 31 and 33 areare at a distance from the respective ends ofthe insert one of the heads is in,

so that in both positions at least communication with the fingerdepressions, 31 and 32.

Circumferentially spaced about the periphery of casting 12 arelongitudinally shaped spring-receiving depressions 34 and 36. Leafsprings 40 and 42 are adapted to reside in these depressions and arefastened at their upper ends by rivets 44 and 46. The springs 40 and 42are designed to partially extend within the interior 12 to a point wherethey will firmly engage the side wall of. insert 14. The springs providepositive frictional engagement with the insert so that the insert willnot float out of the casting in the event of ground water conditions.The springs are fastened to the casting only at their upper ends, thispermits any dirt which might get behind the springs to freely fall tothe bottom of the container rather than adhering between the springs andthe bottoms of the depressions. This is an important feature of theinvention because dirt which adheres behind the springs and ultimatelycakes, will render the springs inoperative.

The depressions 34 and 36 form protrusions along the exterior of thecasting 12. At the lower ends of these protrusions are lug extensions 48and 50. The lugs are integral with the casting and have their lowersurfaces tapered as shown by the numerals 52 and 54. The upper surfaces53 and 55 are substantially flat. The lower taper facilitates placingthe casting within an earth bore having approximately the samecircumference as the casting. The flat surface will resist any upwardmovement from the bore.

The upper opening 60 of the casting 12 is defined by an inwardlyextending dirt resistant lip 62. The lip 62 extends a short distanceabove the annular flange 28 and acts as a blocking member to surfacedirt which might wash into the casting 12. The interior surface of thecasting 12 is tapered at 64 so that the inside diameter of lip 62 isonly slightly larger than the diameter of insert 14. The small distance66 between the lip- 62 and the combination, a cylindrical outer vasetion, an upper end and a lower end, a first outwardly exinsert 14 isreduced to a point Where only small amounts of foreign materials mayenter.

A liberal annular space 68 is defined between the casting and theinsert. This reduces the chance of dirt caking between the two members.If some dirt does cake, surface water in most instances will wash sameto the bottom and cause it to drain out, The recessed springs permitfull movement of the insert within the casting so that any adhering dirtmay mechanically be shaken loose if desired.

The insert, 12 rests on interior bottom lugs 70 and 72 which are spacedabout the flange 26. The raised position of the insert provides liberaldrainage openings between the insertyand the casting so that water orloose dirt which may reach annular space 68 may be readily exhaustedthrough bottom openings 74.

In operation, a small earth bore having a diameter and lengthapproximately the same as that of casting 12 is removed from the areaof'the grave to be served. The casting is forced into the bore to apoint such that flange 28 is at ground level.

The insert 14 is placed in the casting in the flowerreceiving position(FIG. 4). A fiagstafi may be placed in aperature 32 and extended intothe ground for further support if necessary. After the flowers have diedor otherwise served their purpose, they may be removed and the insertchanged to the FIG. 1 position until there is further use for it.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above descrip tion, disclosedwhat I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of my invention,it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto,as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and formof the parts without departing from the principle of the presentinvention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A flower vase assembly of the type having all portions thereofsubstantially below ground level comprising in having a body sectendingflange about said upper end, said outwardly extending flange having aplurality of finger depressions 4 7 along the upper surface thereof, asecond inwardly extending flange defining an opening at said lower end,a plurality of bossm extending upwardly from said second flange, acylindrical inner vase having an outer diameter substantially less thanthe inner diameter of said body section of said outer vase and supportedon said bosses in spaced relationship to said lower flange, said bodysection having radially spaced recesses about the interior thereof, aleaf spring in each of said recesses each having their upper endsfixedly secured in said recesses and their lower ends extending into theinterior of said outer vase and against said inner vase thereby spacingsaid inner vase from said outer vase, and said outer vase having aninwardly and upwardly directed annular taper at its upper end definingan opening only slightly larger than the circumference of said innervase such that foreign matter will be impeded from entering the spacebetween said inner and outer vases, said inner vase having an inwardbead around said open top in communication with said finger depressionswhereby the inner vase may be readily gripped for removal, and saidinner vase having a second bead around the closed end thereof such thatwhen said inner vase is inverted and said open end is resting on saidbosses said second bead is in communication with said fingerdepressions, and said inner vase having a length such that when one endthereof is resting on said bosses, the other end thereof issubstantially in the plane defined by the outermost surface of saidannular taper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS443,741 Barrow Dec. 30, 1890 1,009,842 Jones Nov. 28, 1911 1,541,983McGowan June 16, 1925 1,616,647 Berger "Feb, 8, 1927 1,723,969 Dom Aug.6, 1929 1,859,887 Payson et a1. May 24, 1932 2,029,314 Ellis Feb. 4,1936 2,062,684 Thomas Dec. 1, 1936 2,102,924 Thomas Dec. 21, 19372,364,753 Richter Dec. 12, 1944 2,676,434 Carlson Apr. 27, 1954

